The Madison Square Garden Company Unveils New NBA 2K League Team: Knicks Gaming

Actor and Avid NBA 2K Player Jerry Ferrara Will Serve as Head Scout and Creative Consultant of Team

Chase and Squarespace are Inaugural Founding Partners of Knicks Gaming Team

New York, NY (December 14, 2017) – The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG) today announced that Knicks Gaming will be the official name of its NBA 2K League team, also operating under the moniker KNX Gaming. In addition to the team name, the Knicks Gaming logo was also unveiled today, which pays homage to the strong connection that the game of basketball shares with the people of New York City.

The NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, is a professional esports league featuring the best 2K players in the world. Starting in January, players will begin a qualifying process to determine who will be eligible for the official team tryouts in February, followed by a draft in March, with the season starting in May.

“When presented with the chance to join the NBA 2K League for its inaugural season, we saw it as a compelling opportunity to continue expanding our presence into the esports industry,” said Jordan Solomon, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “We look forward to connecting with new fans through our Knicks Gaming digital channels and growing the Knicks Gaming brand in New York City.”

Jerry Ferrara, star of Entourage and currently on Power, is an avid NBA 2K player and will be the Head Scout and Creative Consultant for Knicks Gaming, providing input into player selection and merchandise design.

“Anyone who knows me understands my passion for NBA 2K so I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of Knicks Gaming as it launches”, said Ferrara. “I know the NBA 2K gaming community well, and my goal is to help make Knicks Gaming the premier team in this league.”

Chase and Squarespace are inaugural founding partners of the Knicks Gaming team. They will each receive in-game virtual exposure for all Knicks Gaming home games, branded digital elements, inclusion at Knicks Gaming events and unique access to the Knicks Gaming players and experiences. You can follow all the Knicks Gaming developments on www.KnicksGaming.com and on the team’s social channels including Twitter (@KnicksGaming), Facebook (@KnicksGaming) and Instagram (@KnicksGaming).

The NBA 2K League Qualifier will take place from January 1-31, 2018 and is open to anyone in the world who has access to NBA 2K18 (XboxOne or PS4) and is 18 years of age or older. All prospective players need to win 50 games in NBA 2K18’S Pro-Am mode and complete an online application by January 31 to receive an invitation to the next round of tryouts in February. Each NBA 2K League team will draft five players in the March draft who will play the game using unique characters. 17 NBA 2K League teams will be participating in the inaugural season when it begins in May.

About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: The New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA); two development league teams — the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and one of the leading North American esports organizations, Counter Logic Gaming. In addition, the Company features the popular original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces outdoor festivals, including New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival. Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com

About the NBA 2K League
The NBA 2K League is a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). Launching in 2018, the league will feature the best NBA 2K players in the world. Each of the league’s 17 teams will draft gamers to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. The league will host tryouts in early 2018, followed by a draft in March and the season tip-off in May. For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit www.NBA2KLeague.com.

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